Chronology for 1900-1937
On the fringes of mono-cultural welfare
Most Māori lived in rural enclaves of Aotearoa New Zealand and practiced customary ways of living and caring for whānau. However, assimilationist policies and a capitalist economic framework were beginning to impact, especially with the migration of adults in search of paid work. By 1920, Māori land holdings had decreased to 8% of total New Zealand lands and the population had increased from 56,987 in 1921 to 82,326 in 1936.[i] go to footnote Factors contributing to this significant population growth, which continued beyond the 1920s, were ‘falls in infant and child mortality, especially but not exclusively from the end of the 19th century to 1976’, ‘reductions in mortality at older ages’, and ‘the high relative fertility of Māori women’.[ii] go to footnote While Māori women and children were at the forefront of the recovery of te ao Māori, they were also targets of state messaging about their ‘proper’ family roles and places in New Zealand society.
Western concepts of child welfare were introduced legislatively in the early 20th century (whāngai restrictions to whenua) and enforced increasingly throughout the century as Māori children began to enter the child juvenile system. Access to pensions and benefits are either denied or paid at a lower rate than for Pākehā.
Iwi Māori continued to fight for hapū autonomy and control over their own welfare. Wāhine Māori, such as Whina Cooper and Te Puea Hērangi, were among Māori leaders pushing for tikanga-based solutions for the welbeing of their people and Māori nationwide.[iii] go to footnote
Chronology events
Displaying 11 - 20 of 270 events.
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First attempts at a Māori Census
This marked the first attempt at a separate Māori census.[i]
Date: 1857 Period: 1835-1899 -
Resistance to land alienation
Māori began to assert resistance to land alienation throughout the country.
Date: 1857 Period: 1835-1899 -
Te Aukati established in Waikato
Te Wherowhero becomes the first Māori King.
Date: 1858 Period: 1835-1899 -
First Kohimarama conference
Governor Thomas Gore Browne held a conference at Kohimarama, Tāmaki Makaurau, in August 1860. This was an attempt to prevent the fighting in Taranaki from spreading to other areas. [i]
Date: 1860 Period: 1835-1899 -
Native Lands Act
Established the Native Land Court, an important means of Crown land acquisition and assimilation.
Date: 1862 Period: 1835-1899 -
New Zealand Settlements Act
War, followed by land confiscation, became another way of implementing social policy to transfer land into Pākehā hands.[i] Roads were also constructed for the military and for economic expansion, especially farming communities, that would draw Māori withi…
Date: 1863 Period: 1835-1899 -
Land confiscations
First proclamation confiscating land under the New Zealand Settlements Act. [i]
Date: 1864 Period: 1835-1899 -
Public Works legislation
Permits the compulsory acquisition of Māori land. [i]
Date: 1864 Period: 1835-1899 -
Native Land Court
The Native Lands Act of 1862 gave the Governor authority to establish a Native Land Court in any district defined by him. Those found by the court to be owners were then at liberty to sell or let land directly to settlers. [i]
Date: 1865 Period: 1835-1899 -
Military Pensions Act 1866
The Military Pensions Act 1866 provided for members of the Colonial Forces killed or wounded on active service in the New Zealand wars. Payments were higher for European members. Special allowances could also be provided to family (widows children and othe…
Date: 1866 Period: 1835-1899
Footnotes
- [i] go to main content The New Zealand Official Year Book 1945
- [ii] go to main content Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History, Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2014, p. 491.
- [iii] go to main content Hērangi, Te Kirihaehae Te Puea – Dictionary of New Zealand Biography – Te Ara; Cooper, Whina – Dictionary of New Zealand Biography – Te Ara.